Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, and the photosensitive layer contains a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal having peaks at Bragg angles 2?±0.2° of 6.9°, 7.7°, 16.4°, 24.4°, and 26.5° in CuK? X-ray diffraction.

Abstract: A toner composition and a method of making a toner composition wherein toner particles having an average size in the range of 1-25 ?m may be mixed with large fumed silica particles sized 70 nm to 120 nm and medium fumed silica particles sized 30 nm to 60 nm and optionally alumina particles surface treated with an inorganic/organic compound. The large sized fumed silica particles are present in the range of 0.1% to 2% by weight of the toner composition. The medium sized fumed silica particles are present in the range of 0.1% to 2% by weight of the toner composition. The alumina particles surface treated with an inorganic/organic compound may be present in the range of 0.01% to 1.0% by weight of the toner composition.

Abstract: There is provided a carrier including magnetic core particles; and a coating layer on a surface of each of the magnetic core particles, wherein the coating layer contains electroconductive particles; wherein the electroconductive particles are electroconductive particles in which white inorganic pigments are coated with phosphorus-doped tin or tungsten-doped tin; and wherein a dope ratio of phosphorus or tungsten to tin in the phosphorus-doped tin or tungsten-doped tin is 0.010 to 0.100.

Abstract: A toner including at least a crystalline resin as a binder resin, wherein a tetrahydrofuran soluble content of the toner includes 5.0% or more as a peak area of a component having a molecular weight of 100,000 or greater in a molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography, and the tetrahydrofuran soluble content of the toner has a weight-average molecular weight of 20,000 to 60,000.

Abstract: A reversibly allochroic toner contains a binder resin and a colorant. The colorant reversibly switches between first and second color states in response to temperature changes. The colorant exhibits a hysteresis in a temperature-color state curve thereof in which the following relationships are satisfied. Tr<TL2<TL1<TH1<TH2<Tg TH2?50° C. 20° C.?Tr?30° C. where, TH1 is a temperature at which the colorant starts to change from the first color state to the second color state, TH2 is a temperature at which the colorant completely changes to the second color state, TL1 is a temperature at which the colorant starts to change from the second color state to the first color state, TL2 is a temperature at which the colorant completely changes to the first color state, and Tg is a glass transition temperature of the binder resin.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles. Each toner particle includes a toner core containing a binder resin, a shell layer coating a surface of the toner core, and needle-like inorganic particulates. Each shell layer contains a thermosetting resin, and the inorganic particulates are present within the shell layer. The inorganic particulates have: an aspect ratio of 1.25 or more and 2.5 or less; and an average major diameter and an average minor diameter of 300 nm or less.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that adjusts the electric current supplied from a second transfer member to suppress acceleration of abrasion of a photoconductor drum while maintaining the second transfer efficiency at a desired level.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing roller, and a control unit. The image carrier has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing roller is arranged to face the image carrier to form a development nip between the image carrier and the developing roller. The developing roller supplies toner in a two-component developer carried on a surface of the developing roller to the image carrier in the development nip so as to develop the electrostatic latent image. The control unit drivingly controls the image carrier and the developing roller. The control unit discharges the toner in the development nip to the image carrier in a state where the developing roller is stopped, so as to calculate a toner concentration in the two-component developer based on an amount of discharged toner.

Abstract: Provided is a developing device including a rotating member that faces a formation target member on which a toner image is formed, is rotated around a rotation shaft extruded from an end portion, and includes a holding portion having an outer circumference on which a toner is held, an accommodation member that accommodates the toner, includes a wall at which a notch is formed, and in which the rotating member is disposed in a state where the rotation shaft is extruded outwardly from an inner surface of the wall through the notch, and a fixation member that is fixed on both sides of an inner surface of the wall with interposing the notch.

Abstract: A development device in which there is a lubricant opposite in polarity to a developer in a surface region of a developer bearing member contacting an image bearing member and an end seal when the developer bearing member rotates.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member, a first conveying member disposed in a supplying chamber, a second conveying member disposed in a collecting chamber, and a third conveying member disposed in the collecting chamber to convey the developer in a conveying direction opposite to the conveying direction of the second conveying member. The third conveying member has a conveying performance which is lower than that of the second conveying member, and has a first screw portion including a spiral blade portion and a second screw portion including a spiral blade portion at a downstream side in the conveying direction The spiral blade portion of the first screw portion and the spiral blade portion of the second screw portion are formed to have a same spiral direction, and a conveying performance of the second screw portion is lower than a conveying performance of the first screw portion.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir and has an axis of rotation. A first magnet and a second magnet are connected to the shaft and rotatable around the axis of rotation in response to rotation of the shaft. The first magnet and the second magnet are detectable by a magnetic sensor when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. A polarity of the first magnet is oriented opposite a polarity of the second magnet relative to the shaft. An amount of angular offset between the first magnet and the second magnet varies depending on an amount of toner in the reservoir.

Abstract: To provide an intermediate transfer belt having a high ability to transfer images to recording media with irregular surface, and an image forming apparatus including the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt includes a base layer and an elastic layer formed on the base layer, the elastic layer being formed of a rubber composition, wherein the intermediate transfer belt satisfies a specific relational expression.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a nip forming device, a contact-and-separation device, a thickness information retrieving device, and a controller. The contact-and-separation device moves the image bearer and the nip forming device to contact and separate from each other. The controller controls the contact-and-separation device based on information on a thickness of a recording medium obtained by the thickness information retrieving device such that in a case in which a thickness of a preceding recording medium and a thickness of a successive recording medium are different in continuous printing in which a plurality of recording media is printed out continuously, the contact-and-separation device adjusts a space between the image bearer and the nip forming device when the preceding recording medium exits the transfer nip to a preset size corresponding to the thickness of the successive recording medium that enters the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer image carrier, first and second image forming units and first and second transfer parts that are arranged sandwiching the developer image carrier with the first and second image forming units. One of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part moves away from the develop image carrier so that the one of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part has two different positions (an image forming position and a non-image forming position). The image forming apparatus further comprises a pressing force variable mechanism that increases the second pressing force between the second image forming unit and the second transfer part when the one of the first image forming unit and the first transfer part moves from the image forming position to the non-image forming position.

Abstract: The fixing device includes an abutting member and an urging member. The abutting member is provided on a sheet conveyance path between a fixing roller pair and a conveying roller pair. The abutting member abuts a surface of a sheet having passed or passing through a separation plate, and the surface faces a heating roller side. The urging member urges the abutting member such that the aforementioned sheet is pressed by the abutting member to a side separated from the separation plate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable fixing member, a pressing member to contact the fixing member with pressure to form a nip between the pressing member and the fixing member, an induction heating unit serving as a heating source to heat the fixing member, and a conductive wire drawn out of the induction heating unit to be disposed outside the cover member through a hole provided substantially at a center of the cover member in a longitudinal direction of the induction heating unit. The induction heating unit includes an excitation coil, a coil holder to hold the excitation coil, and a cover member provided facing the coil holder with the coil holder interposed between the cover member and the fixing member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a cylindrical heat roller; a plurality of heaters disposed inside the heat roller, extending along a longitudinal axis of the heat roller; and a heat adjuster, disposed among the plurality of heaters, to adjust heat from one to another of the plurality of heaters. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a recording medium; and the fixing device as described above, to fix the image onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A heater includes a substrate, a first electrical contact, second electrical contacts, first electrode portions and second electrode portions, heat generating portions, a first electroconductive line portion, and a second electroconductive line portion. The heat generating portions are disposed so as to be offset from a center line of the substrate with respect to a widthwise direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a nip formation pad disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. A slide sheet is sandwiched between the nip formation pad and the endless belt and is a twill fabric containing a lubricant. The slide sheet includes a first sheet contacting the nip formation pad and including a first gutter defined by a first twill line in a first direction angled relative to the direction of rotation of the endless belt and a second sheet layered on the first sheet and contacting the endless belt. The second sheet includes a second gutter defined by a second twill line in a second direction angled relative to the direction of rotation of the endless belt.

Abstract: In a fixing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a projection portion projected in a direction opposite to a direction biased by the biasing member, from a body part of the biasing member, is provided in a biasing member configured to push a thermosensitive member which receives heat from a heater, toward the heater, so that a crack in the heater at the time of an abnormal temperature rise is prevented.

Abstract: An electric power supply device for supplying electric power to a load, the electric power supply device includes a first relay connected with a live line of an AC voltage source; a second relay connected with a neutral line of the AC voltage source; a controller for executing a starting sequence for rendering On the first relay and the second relay from Off state; and a storing portion for storing information relating to the starting sequence executed by the controller; wherein when the electric power supply device is actuated, the controller switches the starting sequence on the basis of the information stored in the storing portion.

Abstract: A system for customizing settings of an electronic device includes a replaceable component having an optical member for receiving optical energy. The optical member has an optical characteristic for modifying an amount of the optical energy that leaves the optical member relative to an amount of the optical energy received by the optical member. A support is located on an outer casing of the electronic device and the replaceable component is mountable on the support. The system further includes an optical sensor including a detector positioned to receive the amount of the optical energy leaving the optical member when the replaceable component is mounted on the support. A controller determines one or more predetermined settings to be applied to the electronic device based at least upon the amount of the optical energy received by the detector.

Abstract: The provided is an electrographic type label printer to properly supply a roll paper to the printer, having a transfer portion of a toner image, a fixing portion, an unwinder that feeds a roll paper, a rewinder that takes up the roll paper, a conveyance mechanism, and slack detection sensors that detect a slack degree of a medium between the transfer portion and the fixing portion. The conveyance mechanism has a conveyance belt to be rotated while mounting the medium on an upper surface facing the upper side, and an intake mechanism for tightly fitting the medium to the upper surface of the conveyance mechanism. When selecting a mode to convey the roll paper, a paper feed unit controller controls passing speed at which the medium passes through a pass-through portion provided in the fixing portion in accordance with output signals from the slack detection sensors.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a measurement unit configured to measure a density of an image that an image forming unit forms, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image processing parameter serving as a correction value used to correct the measured density of the image, a generation unit configured to generate a cleaning patch image using the acquired image processing parameter, and a cleaning patch image forming unit configured to form the cleaning patch image generated by the generation unit on an image bearing member, wherein the cleaning patch image is formed during an interval after a first image is formed by the image forming unit on the image bearing member but before a second image having a printing instruction issued subsequent to a printing instruction issued for the first image is formed by the image forming unit on the image bearing member.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaner, a casing, and an exit seal. The cleaner is configured to remove toner from a cleaning target. The casing accommodates the cleaner. The exit seal is attached to the casing and has a free end contacting the cleaning target at a position downward from the cleaner in a direction of movement of the cleaning target and an attached end attached to the casing. A space is disposed between a surface of the cleaning target and an opposite face of the exit seal opposite the cleaning target. The space includes an opening at a lateral end of the exit seal. The exit seal contacts the cleaning target from a trailing direction of the exit seal and seals the opening at at least an attached end side of the exit seal.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image carrying body, a plate-shaped cleaning member, and a powder of a fatty acid metal salt. The image carrying body is configured to be rotatable and carries an image formed on a surface thereof with a toner. The plate-shaped cleaning member includes a tip portion which is pressed against the surface and which scrapes a material adhering onto the surface in response to rotation of the image carrying body. The powder of the fatty acid metal salt is applied to at least one of the tip portion and the surface.

Abstract: A housing structure includes: a housing configured to house therein components for use by an image forming apparatus and having an opening; a cover member configured to cover the opening of the housing and including an adherend portion; and a sealing member placed between an opening end of the housing and the cover member and configured to seal between the cover member and the housing by being compressed when the cover member is attached to the housing, the sealing member adhering to the adherend portion of the cover member, and at least one groove being formed in the adherent portion of the cover member.

Abstract: A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.

Abstract: A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes an elongated body extending along a lengthwise dimension between a front and a rear of the body. The body has a reservoir for holding toner. The body includes an extension downward from the bottom of the body near the rear of the body. The extension has a downward chute formed therein in fluid communication with the reservoir. A rear face of the extension is unobstructed to receive a bias force in a forward direction toward the front of the body along the lengthwise dimension. An outlet port on the bottom of the extension is in fluid communication with the chute for transferring toner out of the reservoir. The replaceable unit may include a positioning bump on the bottom of the body at a rearmost position on the bottom of the body.

Abstract: A photoconductor unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a first end wall positioned at a first end of the housing. A photoconductive drum is mounted on the housing and has a rotational axis that runs from the first end to a second end of the housing. An electrically conductive first biasing member extends axially inward with respect to the photoconductive drum from an inner axial side of the first end wall. The first biasing member is exposed on the inner axial side of the first end wall to contact and force a developer unit toward the second end of the housing when the developer unit is operably mated with the photoconductor unit and to contact and form an electrical path with a corresponding electrical contact on the developer unit when the developer unit is operably mated with the photoconductor unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus, the cartridge including an image bearing member and a cleaning member which abuts against the image bearing member to remove remaining developer on the image bearing member; an inputting portion into which information for detaching the cartridge from the image forming apparatus is inputted; and an execution portion capable of executing, after an operation of forming an image on a recording material is finished, a first operation of rotating the image bearing member in a direction reverse to a rotation direction of the image bearing member and a second operation of rotating the image bearing member in the rotation direction of the image bearing member when the information is inputted to the inputting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a process cartridge. The process cartridge is detachably mountable to the main assembly and includes a photosensitive drum, a rotatable developing roller, a developer supplying roller, a driving force transmitting portion, and a driving force receiving portion. The driving force receiving portion is connected to the driving force transmitting portion, and the driving force receiving portion is movable so that an axis of the first driving force receiving portion moves in a direction crossing an axis of the driving force transmitting portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image forming device provided in the apparatus body and forming an image on a surface of a recording medium, a cooler to cool the image forming device, a temperature detector to detect a temperature around the apparatus body, and a controller including a computing part to count a driving period of the image forming device and a memory to store a computed value obtained by the computing part as a counter value. The controller controls driving of the image forming device and driving of the cooler based on a detected temperature obtained by the temperature detector and the counter value. The controller adjusts the driving of the image forming device irrespective of the counter value to a regular driving speed when the detected temperature is lower than a reference temperature.

Abstract: A duct includes a suction port being connected to a first separate duct from a first direction, an exhaust port being connected to a second separate duct from the first direction, and a passage formed to extend from the suction port to the exhaust port. At least one of the suction port and the exhaust port includes a first opening portion that is opened to incline to the first direction and second opening portions at both ends of the first opening portion, the second opening portions that are opened in a transverse direction to the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a printing paper transport path in which printing paper is transported; a secondary transfer unit and a fixing section both disposed on the printing paper transport path; an open/close cover that, when opened, exposes the printing paper transport path in a main body of the apparatus; a pressure roller, disposed in the fixing section, that presses the printing paper on a side thereof facing the open/close cover against the printing paper transport path; and cooling fans that cool down the pressure roller, wherein the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans are attached to the open/close cover and disposed at such positions that the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans move following overlapping paths when the open/close cover is opened/closed.

Abstract: A card 1 includes: a card substrate 10; a transparent hologram layer 20 on a part of the substrate 10; and a surface layer 30 comprising a print layer 40 on the substrate 10 and the layer 20, is formed by a transparent material, and is printed with a color similar to the upper surface of the substrate 10. When a card surface 1a is viewed from the normal line, the layer 40 has the same color shading compared to the upper surface of the substrate 10, at the edge portion 22 of the layer 20. The layer 40 includes a gradation portion 43 wherein the color is gradually lighter from an outer edge portion 43a at the inner side of the edge portion 22 of the layer 20 toward the inner portion, a window portion 44 is formed at an image 21 portion of the layer 20.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to high frequency piezoelectric crystal composites, devices, and method for manufacturing the same. In adaptive embodiments an improved imaging device, particularly a medical imaging device or a distance imaging device, for high frequency (>20 MHz) applications involving an imaging transducer assembly is coupled to a signal imagery processor. Additionally, the proposed invention presents a system for photolithography based micro-machined piezoelectric crystal composites and their uses resulting in improved performance parameters.

Abstract: Timepiece power reserve indicator for the display of the power reserve indication of a plurality of energy accumulators each including one indicator cooperating with one accumulator input of a differential mechanism comprised in the power reserve indicator, and wherein one output of the differential mechanism cooperates with a mechanism for the display of the total power reserve of the plurality of energy accumulators, and at least two of the inputs are coaxial.

Abstract: There is provided an acoustic radiating membrane arrangement for a striking or musical watch. The arrangement includes a first membrane arranged superposed on a second membrane. Peripheral edge portions of the two membranes are intended to hold the membranes inside a watch case. The first acoustic radiating membrane is configured to radiate efficiently the frequencies in a first frequency band. The second acoustic radiating membrane is configured to radiate efficiently the frequencies in a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band. A spacer ring is also disposed between the peripheral edge portions of the first membrane and of the second membrane to define an acoustic cavity.

Abstract: A wristwatch including a case including a band attachment section having an attachment hole, a band including a coupling hole in one end portion located coaxially with the attachment hole of the band attachment section, a coupling member inserted into the coupling hole of the band and the attachment hole of the band attachment section and coupling the band with the band attachment section, and a fixing member fixing the coupling member to the attachment hole of the band attachment section or the coupling hole of the band.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a display device that displays display information, a drive mechanism that drives the display device, a crown that can perform a rotary operation, and a control device that corrects the display information displayed on the display device by the rotary operation of the crown. The control device has a single correction mode and a continuous correction mode which are selected by the rotary operation of the crown. In the single correction mode, a single correction signal is output to the drive mechanism so that the display device is corrected as much as a single correction quantity. In the continuous correction mode, a continuous correction signal is output to the drive mechanism so that the display device is corrected as much as a continuous correction quantity. The continuous correction quantity is set depending on types of the display information to be corrected in the continuous correction mode.

Abstract: In a method for an electronic device to adjust fool-proofing functions of operations, an algorithm corresponding to each of the operations, and ranges for triggering the fool-proofing functions of the operations are preset. When an operation inputted by an operator is obtained, the method calculates a skilled value of the operation according to reference parameters of the operator and an algorithm corresponding to the operation. The method further determines a fool-proofing function of the operation that is triggered by the electronic device according to the skilled value and the ranges for triggering the fool-proofing functions, and adjusts the electronic device to execute the determined fool-proofing function.

Abstract: In an actuator control method and an actuator control device, time optimal control is used, and a switching time at which an acceleration output is switched to a deceleration output, and an end time of the deceleration output are calculated using a maximum acceleration and a maximum deceleration at the time of a maximum output of a control force. A control force of an actuator is set as a maximum acceleration output from a calculation time to the switching time, the control force of the actuator is set as a maximum deceleration output from the switching time to the end time, output of the control force is ended at the end time, and the switching time and the end time are repeatedly calculated, and updated for each preset time. The control output is reduced along with decrease of residual energy, which is a sum of remaining work and kinetic energy of a control system.

Abstract: A system for automating a building has an object describing a building section and at least one object describing an automation function and a functional unit having at least one open-loop and/or closed-loop control program, with the object describing a building section having an overview list, in which semantic information units for the building section concerned are able to be stored. A semantic information unit for the building section concerned identifies an automation function which is provided in the building section. The object describing the automation function has an overview list, in which semantic information units for the automation function concerned are able to be stored. The semantic information unit includes a relation to a further object. The relation is implemented such that a bidirectional exchange of data between the corresponding objects is made possible.

Abstract: An actuator control apparatus includes an analog-digital conversion circuit, a servo circuit, a sampling circuit, and a driving circuit. The analog-digital conversion circuit is configured to sample a position detection signal with a first sampling period, convert the sampled signal into a digital signal, and output the digital signal, the position detection signal outputted from a position sensor corresponding to a position of a control target. The servo circuit is configured to calculate a displacement amount, by which the control target is to be displaced by an actuator, and output first servo control data corresponding to the calculated displacement amount, based on the position detection signal converted into the digital signal. The sampling circuit is configured to linearly interpolate the first servo control data, and output second servo control data sampled with a second sampling period shorter than the first sampling period.

Abstract: A method performed by a control unit in an array of multiple self-addressable control units arranged in at least two dimensions involves obtaining information to be used to determine a self-address, determining a self-address value based upon the information, storing the determined self-address value, based upon the self-address value, specifying first data to be provided to a next self-addressable control unit in a first group of self-addressable control units for a first dimension of the array, providing the first data to the next self-addressable control unit in the first group, based upon the self-address value, specifying second data to be provided to a different self-addressable control unit in a second group of self-addressable control units for a second dimension of the array different from the first dimension of the array, and providing the second data to the different self-addressable control unit in the second group.

Abstract: A waveform display device displaying by a waveform a time series of physical quantity data in a machine tool having a servo motor controlled by a numerical control device, the waveform display device including: a time series data acquisition part acquiring the time series of physical quantity data; a search condition setting part setting a search condition of the physical quantity data; a data search part searching for physical quantity data satisfying the search condition set from the acquired physical quantity data; and a search result display part extracting a time series of physical quantity data in a predetermined range including the searched physical quantity data or other physical quantity data corresponding to the searched physical quantity data from the acquired physical quantity data, and displaying the extracted time series of physical quantity data by a waveform.

Abstract: A numerical control device for a machine tool includes: a timing calculation unit configured to calculate a start timing of a post-reverse movement command by which a position, where the sum of velocities generated in response to a pre-reverse movement command and the post-reverse movement command becomes zero, is equal to a position distanced by an in-position width from the end point of the pre-reverse movement command; and a movement command start unit configured to start the post-reverse movement command in accordance with the start timing calculated by the timing calculation unit.

Abstract: A method for operating a power tool detects human contact with a non-moving implement of the power tool. The method includes sampling an electrical signal that passes through the non-moving implement, identifying in-phase and quadrature phase components for the sample, identifying a first distance between the components of the sample and a centroid of a cluster of samples corresponding to human contact with the non-moving implement, identifying a second distance between the components of the sample and a second centroid identified for another cluster of samples corresponding to no human contact with the non-moving implement, and identifying human contact with the non-moving implement with reference to the first distance being less than the second distance.